EVENT: Ravens 7on7 high school football tournament presented by Under Armour
WHEN: Sunday, June 5, 9:30 AM start
WHERE: St. Paul’s School (Baltimore, Md.)
The official start of the high school football season is still many weeks away, but workouts and team camps will break ground this weekend at the Ravens 7on7 passing tournament presented by Under Armour, held at St. Paul’s School in Baltimore.
Maryland Sports Access will be in attendance Sunday, June 5, providing social media updates and a complete tournament review — featuring game, player and team reports; photo galleries, and game highlights.
Many top teams from around Maryland are set to square off including nine of the top 25 from the state media poll (2015 year end rankings, mdprepfootball.com).
No. 9 John Carroll
No. 10 Howard
No. 12 Linganore
No. 13 Fort Hill
No. 16 Northwest
No. 18 Broadneck
No. 19 Old Mill
No. 24 Oakdale
No. 25 Walkersville
Gonzaga (D.C.), who defeated DeMatha 24-14 on national television last year, is set to compete as well.
First round schedule:
9:30 AM
Glen Burnie vs. Tuscarora
John Carroll vs. Liberty
Old Mill vs. Silver Oak
Oakdale vs. Archbishop Curley
Broadneck vs. Century
River Hill vs. Aberdeen
Northwest vs. Mount Hebron
South Carroll vs. Oxon Hill
10:30 AM
Walkersville vs. Overlea
Fort Hill vs. Thomas Johnson
Gonzaga (D.C.) vs. Carver Vo-Tech
Northwestern-PG vs. Marriotts Ridge
Smyrna (Del.) vs. St. Paul’s
Linganore vs. Elkton
Howard vs. Maryland School for the Deaf
Friendly vs. Chopticon
As opposed to a traditional high school football game with four, twelve minute quarters, the Ravens 7 on 7 tournament presented by Under Armour is ran a little differently. Here are the complete rules and guidelines below:
Method of play
- There will be a pregame coin flip to determine who starts on offense
- The ball will always start on the offense’s 40-yard line to start a possession (This includes interceptions not returned for TD’s)
- Offense will be given four downs to make a first down at the 20 yard line in order to receive four additional downs
- Offense may have only five eligibles whether it’s a running back in the back field or a wide reciever, plus QB and Center (Center is optional)
- Offense must have at least one back/receiver lined up within imaginary tackles upon snap of ball at least five yards deep. You cannot motion to an empty set
- The football must be thrown within four seconds with a center-quarterback exchange and within three seconds without a center-quarterback exchange. Officials use electronic countdown timers on the field and will not count out loud. A sack occurs when the quarterback does not RELEASE the ball in time (if the timer goes off with the arm in motion, it’s a sack) – play the next down from the previous line of scrimmage
- The ball is declared dead when the runner is tagged with one hand between the shoulders and the knees (including the hand and arm) or the ball touches the ground (this does not include the center-quarterback exchange)
- Offenses may finish a drive started before time has expired only if they have a chance to win or tie
- Ties will be played immediately by method of sudden death overtime. Each team is given three plays with the team gaining the most yards winning. Interceptions constitute a dead ball during sudden death
- All touchdowns are one point (includes interceptions for scores). No PATs
- Team with the most points at the expiration of time wins
Rules
- Each game will be 40 minutes running time with a 30 second play clock
- No timeouts (with the exception of an official calling time for clarification, injury, etc.)
- Mouthpieces are mandatory on the field of play
- No running plays (QB may not run the football)
- Offensive players are responsible for retrieving the football after each play
- No coaches or additional players are allowed on the field during play
- No blocking or screen blocking whatsoever. Blocking constitutes a loss of down penalty
- The offense may pass the ball only once from the QB during a play. Double passes constitute an illegal forward pass
- Defense cannot line up closer than three yards from the line of scrimmage. Defense must give offense a free release off the line of scrimmage
- NO CONTACT ON DEFENSE during route progressions – contact is defined as body to body, forearms, or with two hands. One hand does not constitute contact (except for holding). It is the responsibility of the defender to avoid contact
Each team will play at least four games with the top teams moving on to play in the championship tournament under the lights at M&T Bank Stadium Saturday, June 25. Northwest defeated Linganore in the passing league championship a year ago.
Make sure to follow us on Twitter @MDSportsAccess, Instagram @MarylandSportsAccess, and like us on Facebook to receive updates and information about high school football’s first event of the 2016 season.
